Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A wearable see-through display, comprising: a display panel; a first combiner; and a transmissive image expansion optical element intermediate the display panel and the first combiner, the transmissive image expansion optical element comprising: a partially transmissive and partially reflective flat surface facing the first combiner; and a partially transmissive and partially reflective curved surface facing the display panel; wherein image content light generated by the display panel is internally reflected by the flat surface towards the curved surface and the curved surface reflects the image content light through the flat surface towards the first combiner.
A wearable see-through display system addresses the challenge of integrating compact, high-quality augmented reality (AR) visualization into head-mounted devices. The system includes a display panel that generates image content light, a first combiner for merging virtual and real-world views, and a transmissive image expansion optical element positioned between them. This optical element features a partially transmissive and partially reflective flat surface facing the combiner and a partially transmissive and partially reflective curved surface facing the display panel. The image content light from the display panel is internally reflected by the flat surface toward the curved surface, which then reflects the light back through the flat surface toward the combiner. This dual-reflection design expands the image size while maintaining optical clarity and minimizing distortion, enabling a wider field of view in a compact form factor. The system enhances AR applications by providing a lightweight, see-through display with improved image quality and spatial efficiency.
2. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , wherein the transmissive image expansion optical element is positioned above an eye of a user and out of a field of view of the user.
A wearable see-through display system includes a transmissive image expansion optical element designed to project images into a user's field of view while maintaining transparency to external light. The optical element is positioned above the user's eye, outside their direct line of sight, to avoid obstructing their natural vision. This configuration allows the user to perceive augmented reality content without visual interference from the optical component itself. The system may also incorporate additional components, such as a light source or image generator, to produce and direct the displayed content. The optical element's placement ensures that the user can seamlessly view both digital overlays and the real-world environment without obstruction. This design is particularly useful in applications requiring unobstructed vision, such as navigation, gaming, or industrial augmented reality systems. The optical element's positioning minimizes visual clutter while maintaining the functionality of the display. The overall system enhances user experience by integrating digital information into the real world without compromising natural sight.
3. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , wherein the transmissive image expansion optical element is positioned to a side of an eye of a user and out of a field of view of the user.
4. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , wherein the image content light is viewable by a user with a field of view of between 35 degrees and 40 degrees and a diagonal aspect ratio of at least 16:9.
A wearable see-through display system provides image content to a user while maintaining transparency for the surrounding environment. The display includes a light source that generates image content light, an optical waveguide that guides the light to the user's eye, and a coupling element that directs the light into the waveguide. The system ensures the image content is viewable with a field of view between 35 and 40 degrees and a diagonal aspect ratio of at least 16:9, enhancing immersion and visual clarity. The waveguide may include diffractive or reflective elements to control light propagation, while the coupling element efficiently directs light into the waveguide with minimal loss. The design optimizes brightness and contrast while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for wearable applications. This configuration improves user experience by providing a wide, high-aspect-ratio display that integrates seamlessly with the user's natural field of view. The system is particularly useful in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications where maintaining environmental awareness is critical.
5. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , further comprising a stray-light control optic disposed between the transmissive image expansion optical element and the first combiner to occlude scene light from the surrounding environment.
A wearable see-through display system includes a transmissive image expansion optical element that enlarges and directs image light from a microdisplay toward a user's eye. The system also includes a first combiner that reflects the expanded image light into the user's eye while allowing ambient scene light from the surrounding environment to pass through, enabling the user to see both the displayed image and the real-world environment simultaneously. To improve image clarity and contrast, the system incorporates a stray-light control optic positioned between the transmissive image expansion optical element and the first combiner. This optic blocks or redirects unwanted scene light that could otherwise scatter or interfere with the displayed image, enhancing the overall viewing experience by reducing glare and improving visibility of the virtual content. The stray-light control optic may include features such as apertures, baffles, or absorptive coatings to selectively filter light, ensuring that only the intended image light reaches the user's eye while minimizing distractions from the external environment. This design is particularly useful in applications where high contrast and clarity are critical, such as augmented reality (AR) or mixed reality (MR) devices.
6. The wearable see-through display of claim 5 , wherein the image content light is viewable by a user with a field of view of at least 50 degrees.
7. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , wherein the first combiner reflects the image content light away from an eye of a user and towards a reflective surface that reflects the image content light towards the eye.
8. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , further comprising: a light source; and a second combiner, wherein the second combiner combines illumination light generated by the light source with the image content light and presents the image content light to the first combiner, and wherein the transmissive image expansion optical element is between the first combiner and the second combiner.
A wearable see-through display system enhances visual perception by overlaying digital content onto a user's real-world view. The system addresses the challenge of integrating artificial light sources with ambient light to improve visibility and contrast of displayed content. The display includes a first combiner that merges image content light with ambient light, allowing the user to see both digital and real-world elements simultaneously. A transmissive image expansion optical element is positioned to enlarge the field of view of the displayed content, ensuring clarity and immersion. Additionally, the system incorporates a light source and a second combiner. The second combiner combines illumination light from the light source with the image content light before directing it to the first combiner. This dual-combiner design optimizes light path efficiency and enhances brightness control, ensuring the displayed content remains visible under varying ambient lighting conditions. The transmissive optical element's placement between the two combiners ensures proper alignment and magnification of the image content, improving overall visual performance. This configuration enables a compact, high-performance wearable display suitable for augmented reality applications.
9. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flat surface and the curved surface is polarized.
10. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , further comprising a stray-light control optic disposed between the transmissive image expansion optical element and the first combiner to permit image light from the transmissive image expansion optical element to reach the first combiner and limit scene light from being reflected from the first combiner to the display panel.
A wearable see-through display system includes a display panel, a transmissive image expansion optical element, and a first combiner. The display panel generates image light, which is expanded by the transmissive image expansion optical element before reaching the first combiner. The combiner directs the expanded image light toward a user's eye while allowing ambient scene light to pass through, enabling a see-through view. To enhance image quality, the system includes a stray-light control optic positioned between the image expansion element and the combiner. This optic allows the image light to reach the combiner while reducing unwanted reflections of ambient scene light from the combiner back toward the display panel. The stray-light control optic minimizes optical interference, improving contrast and clarity in the displayed image. The system is designed for augmented reality applications, where maintaining a clear view of the real-world environment while overlaying digital content is essential. The stray-light control optic ensures that the displayed image remains sharp and unobstructed by stray reflections, enhancing the user experience in various lighting conditions.
11. The wearable see-through display of claim 1 , further comprising a stray-light control optic disposed between the transmissive image expansion optical element and the first combiner to limit dump light from reaching the first combiner.
12. A wearable see-through display, comprising: a display panel; a first combiner; and a transmissive image expansion optical element intermediate the display panel and the first combiner, the transmissive image expansion optical element comprising: a partially transmissive and partially reflective flat surface facing the display panel; and a partially transmissive and partially reflective curved surface facing the first combiner; wherein image content light generated by the display panel is internally reflected by the curved surface towards the flat surface and the flat surface reflects the image content light through the curved surface towards the first combiner.
13. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , wherein the transmissive image expansion optical element is positioned above an eye of a user and out of a field of view of the user.
14. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , wherein the transmissive image expansion optical element is positioned to a side of an eye of a user and out of a field of view of the user.
15. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , wherein the image content light is viewable by a user with a field of view of between 35 degrees and 40 degrees and a diagonal aspect ratio of at least 16:9.
16. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , further comprising a stray-light control optic disposed between the transmissive image expansion optical element and the first combiner to occlude scene light from the surrounding environment.
17. The wearable see-through display of claim 16 , wherein the image content light is viewable by a user with a field of view of at least 50 degrees.
18. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , wherein the first combiner reflects the image content light away from an eye of a user and towards a reflective surface that reflects the image content light towards the eye.
19. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , further comprising: a light source; and a second combiner, wherein the second combiner combines illumination light generated by the light source with the image content light and presents the image content light to the first combiner, and wherein the transmissive image expansion optical element is between the first combiner and the second combiner.
20. The wearable see-through display of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the flat surface and the curved surface is polarized.
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April 6, 2021
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